By Team Aakash Byju's

Flux and Slag in Chemistry: Explained With Examples

Flux is a material or substance that is added to molten metals in order to bind with easily removable impurities.

Slag is the end product obtained by the combination of gangue with flux.

The process of metal refining requires the use of fluxes. They are also used in metal joining as well as extractive metallurgy.

Fluxes can have an acidic or basic pH. To eliminate the basic contaminants, an acidic flux is utilised.

For example, Silica (SiO2) is used to eliminate basic earthy contaminants like lime (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO).

Slag is made up of calcium, magnesium silicate, iron, aluminium, and other metals that are formed from the smelting of copper, lead, and nickel.

Slag is produced as a by-product of smelting and other combustion and metallurgical operations.

An example of slag is the heat used in copper melting to eliminate iron and silica.

Slag prevents metal from oxidising and has the appearance of glass, making it suitable for use in road construction.